DSE turnover crosses Tk 5b-mark

Stocks returned to the green Monday after previous session’s correction with turnover on the prime bourse crossed Tk 5.0 billion-mark as investors took position amid optimism. The market opened with a positive note and the positive trend continued till the...

HSBC’s Global Head of Trade visits Bangladesh

James Emmett, Global Head of Trade and Receivables Finance, HSBC, is visiting Bangladesh from 24 to 27 February 2014. During his stay in Bangladesh, James will meet colleagues from Bangladesh and a number of key HSBC clients and stakeholders. James...

Positive trend

The prices of most shares on both bourses – Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) – saw positive trend in early hours of trading on Monday, the second trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index...

Govt to double its target to 0.4m tonnes from 0.2m tonnes

The government has decided to double its ongoing Aman rice procurement target to 0.4 million tonnes from the original 0.2 million tonnes due to positive response from the millers, a food directorate official said. "We have extended the procurement target...

Power Div seeks $252m interest-free loan from MoF for Rampal plants

The Power Division has sought US$252 million from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) as interest-free loan to build the coal-fired power plants at Rampal in Bagerhat district, officials said. "The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has no capacity to finance...

Involving the private sector in building infrastructures

The supply of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports, power plants and other public utilities has traditionally been the responsibility of the governments, both in capitalist and socialist economies. While the private sector is often subcontracted to carry out the...

Sanctity of Shaheed Minar

The deepest feeling of the nation is associated with the Sheed Minar (monument erected to commemorate the sacrifice of the language martyrs). No wonder, people throng at the central Shaheed Minar to offer their floral wreaths or bouquets as a...

Is RMG industry ready for \\\'transformation\\\'?

The country's apparel industry, undoubtedly, is at a crossroads. All stakeholders are unanimous that the industry needs a transformation, at the earliest, in terms of workplace safety, workers' rights and technological upgradation not only to retain its current ranking as...

Social security scheme for a low-income country

Government has already reformed industrial relations law which facilitates trade union formation and compensation in the event of accident or death connected with work. Government has also revised minimum wage raising it manifold. Safety standards at workplace also are to...

Stocks down, turnover up

Stocks closed lower Sunday, the opening day of the week with turnover improved slightly as investors followed cautious stance. The market opened with a positive note, but could not sustain. At the end of the day’s session, the prime index...

Stocks down at opening amid volatility

Share prices on both bourses – Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) – saw negative trend in early hours of trading Sunday amid see-saw, the opening day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE...

Govt set to re-introduce 20pc SD on tea import

The government is set to re-introduce 20 per cent Supplementary Duty (SD) on import of tea, which had been scrapped in the budget for the current fiscal year. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) recently took the move following a...

Ukraine peace is a positive development, but will it last?

Finally, Ukraine's embattled president Victor Yanukovych has reached an understanding with the opposition to end the long-running political crisis in the country. But doubts persist about the eventual smooth implementation of the deal since the opposition finds it short of...

Fresh call to relocate Rampal power plant

Leaders of the National Committee to protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports have once again demanded relocation of Rampal power plant to save the Sundarbans. The Committee which has been relentlessly protesting installation of the thermal power plant...

Private medical colleges\\\' credentials under scanner

The government has formed 22 committees to assess the quality of education and detect the irregularities at private medical and dental colleges in the country. The committees have been formed as allegations are galore that the private medical colleges have...

Govt to cancel some LPG companies\\\' licences

The government is going to cancel licences of a number of companies engaged in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) business for their failure to install bottling plants within the stipulated timeframe. The new licence holders of LPG bottling plants could not...

DP World interested to invest in deep sea port

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed its interest to invest in Bangladesh's infrastructure sector, especially in the port development. The UEA has appraised the government of its proposal for building a deep sea port in the country, an official...

Herbal medicine manufacturing on the rise

Local drug manufacturers including the top market players are increasingly making foray to produce herbal medicines together with their traditional ones considering their growing demand in the local and international markets, industry insiders said. They observed that scope to exploit...

Ukraine peace deal halts violence but crowds still angry

A breakthrough peace deal for Ukraine halted two days of violence that had turned the centre of the capital into a war zone and killed 77 people, bringing sweeping political change that met many demands of the pro-European opposition. Russian-backed...

Welfare policies embedded in the Constitution

Ninety-five poverty reduction and social security programmes have been implemented by the government. Virtually all Ministries run one or more programmes. Foreign Ministry and Home Ministry would be possible exceptions but for pension for retired officials, children's education allowances, and...

Stocks close flat amid cautious stance

The market ended flat last week that ended Thursday after previous week's correction with turnover dropped significantly as investors remained cautious to make fresh investments into stocks. It was the first week after new boards took charge of demutualised stock...

Promoting science education in schools

In 1991 SSC examination, 44 percent students came from science group. It came down to 30 percent in 2005. In 2005 HSC examination, 23 percent appeared from science group, 49 percent from humanities group and 27 percent students from business...

New book on BD economy to be launched tomorrow

The launching ceremony of a book, titled ?????????? ????????: ???? ? ????? (Bangladesher Arthaneeti: Vetor O Bahir). authored by Dr Fahmida Khatun, Research Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 3.30 pm at...

NCTB yet to pay printers Tk 1.04b for school textbooks

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) is yet to pay Tk 1.04 billion to printers who delivered books for 2014 on time amid restive political situations. The government organised textbook festival on the first day of the new year...

The indomitable spirit of Ekushey

Sixty-two years ago, in 1952, the Language Movement catalysed the assertion of Bengali national identity in the then Pakistan. It became a forerunner to Bengali nationalist movements, including the emerging self-rule consciousness in 1954 general election, a student movement in...

Diversity of opinions enriches democracy

The concept of freedom of expression is well accepted as a fundamental to the democratic process. It is guaranteed in the Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR). The idea is that people will take their own...

Is love for Bangla diminishing?

The ruling by the High Court on ensuring the use of Bangla in advertisements on electronics media, vehicle's registration plates, signboards and billboards across the country could not come at a better time. This is the month of Falgoon/ February...

FATF grey list and Padma Bridge financing

On February 17, newspapers carried two important news items, both having relevance to financing of imports. The first one carries a good news that Bangladesh's name has been taken off the 'grey list' of international money laundering watch dog-Financial Action...

Stocks edge higher for 2nd day

Stocks edged higher for the second running session Thursday with turnover improved further as investors went for buying spree amid optimism.The market opened with a positive note and the upward trend continued till the market closure amid modest see-saw, eventually...

AMTOB hails NID access for subscribers registration

Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have praised the government decision for providing access to the Election Commission’s National ID (NID) database to verify the subscriber’s information before activating new mobile phone connections....